1997 Pontiac Bonneville LSE - 40 year anniversary review from North America

The day after I picked the car up from the dealer I returned with a leaking gas tank. The dealer was very apologetic, but I couldn't believe a new car could have a tank that leaked. The car performed well for the next 45,000 miles. All required maintenance was accomplished. This car was driven mostly by my wife and then one day while driving to Charleston, SC., I noticed some problems with the automatic transmission. To make a long story short, I reported it to the dealer, but was told they could not find anything wrong and dismissed it. I reported it to them on four other occasions, (48,000 - 51,000 - 54,000 - 55,000 and finally at 58,000 miles). The last time I decided to take the car to a local Chevydealer, my extended warranty was done at 50,000 miles. The Chevy dealer told me that there was a code in the computer, which had been there for quite some time that stated, "transmission slipping", I needed a new transmission. After a heated debate with regional Pontiac and my dealer it was replaced free of charge. That made me happy until a new alternator was needed at 65,000 miles. I still have the car, I use it as my go to work car, it has 94,000 miles and now the battery cables are corroded and will be replaced later this week.

In 1997 this car sold for just over $25,000.00.

I will never buy another American engineered car.

Thankfully the Japan automakers are using US workers to assemble their better engineered cars.